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Guantanamo Stories

On January 11, 2002, the first detainees were brought to Guantanamo Bay Prison.

In eleven years since Guantanamo opened, the prison and detention camp has risen in infamy as a fighting point between politicians and an obvious human rights violation to the general public.

Seven hundred and seventy-nine prisoners have passed through its doors in Guantanamo's eleven year history; 572 have thus far been released.

However, out of all the prisoners released, the most overlooked have been the Yemenis. Of the 164 men remaining in Guantanamo, 86 are Yemenis. Thirty-six have been cleared for release by President Obamas Guantanamo Task Force and many by the Bush administration as far back as 2004. Dozens more are waiting in "conditional detention" limbo.

Though closure of the prison may be on the horizon, no one is looking forward to it more than the families of the Yemenis themselves. Mothers and fathers have little to no communications with their sons, who have transformed from teenagers to men who could have families of their own. Besides the occasional monitored phone call or edited letter, most families have no communication with their sons, much less authorities, the government, or an advocate.

While Washington drags it's feet, families are waiting. Not to see a smaller number on the list of Guantanamo prisoners, but to see their sons to return home once again. These are their stories.

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Father of Abdurahman al Shubati. Abdulrahman has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He has been cleared for release by former President Bush in 2006 and 2007, as well as President Obama's Guantanamo Task Force in 2009. He has his Habeus Corpus granted in 2009, but vacated upon court appeal in 2011.

As of 2013, Guantanamo Bay Prison is still open. Of the 164 prisoners remaining, 86 are Yemeni. Many have been cleared for release since 2004. Their families are waiting in Yemen, with little to no communication with their sons. These are their stories.

As of 2013, Guantanamo Bay Prison is still open. Of the 164 prisoners remaining, 86 are Yemeni. Many have been cleared for release since 2004. Their families are waiting in Yemen, with little to no communication with their sons. These are their stories.

On January 11, 2002, the first detainees were brought to Guantanamo Bay Prison.

In eleven years since Guantanamo opened, the prison and detention camp has risen in infamy as a fighting point between politicians and an obvious human rights violation to the general public.

Seven hundred and seventy-nine prisoners have passed through its doors in Guantanamo's eleven year history; 572 have thus far been released.

However, out of all the prisoners released, the most overlooked have been the Yemenis. Of the 164 men remaining in Guantanamo, 86 are Yemenis. Thirty-six have been cleared for release by President Obamas Guantanamo Task Force and many by the Bush administration as far back as 2004. Dozens more are waiting in "conditional detention" limbo.

Though closure of the prison may be on the horizon, no one is looking forward to it more than the families of the Yemenis themselves. Mothers and fathers have little to no communications with their sons, who have transformed from teenagers to men who could have families of their own. Besides the occasional monitored phone call or edited letter, most families have no communication with their sons, much less authorities, the government, or an advocate.

While Washington drags it's feet, families are waiting. Not to see a smaller number on the list of Guantanamo prisoners, but to see their sons to return home once again. These are their stories.

Father of Abdurahman al Shubati. Abdulrahman has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He has been cleared for release by former President Bush in 2006 and 2007, as well as President Obama's Guantanamo Task Force in 2009. He has his Habeus Corpus granted in 2009, but vacated upon court appeal in 2011.

Mother of Abdurahman al Shubati. She is holding a banner with Abdulrahman and his daughter's photo printed on it. The family is very active with protests against Guantanamo and advocating for other families.
The banner reads "Daddy, I will wait for you!" His daughter, Auwda is twelve years old, she was born during his detention in Guantanamo and has never met her father.

Photos of Salman Yahya al Rabie'e, on the left at home in Yemen, on the right imprisoned in Guantanamo. Beneath the photos is a letter written by Salman on 7 May, 2013. The letter arrived to his family on 2 September, nearly four months later.
Salman Yahya al Rabie'e has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He has been continuously detained under the AUMF Act: Authorization for Use of Military Force, signed by former President Bush during his administration. Salman was captured in Afghanistan where he went to look for his brother, Fawaz, after broke contact with the family for nearly a year.

Mother of Fahmi Abdullah Obady al Tawlaqi. Fahmi has been held in Guantanamo since without a trial. He is still held in conditional detention, meaning he is cleared for release as long as the situation in Yemen is considered stable.

Salem Said al Asani, father of Fahmi Salem Said Al Asani.
Fahmi Salem Said Al Asani has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He has been cleared for release by former President Bush in 2006 and 2007, as well as President Obama's Guantanamo Task Force in 2009. Fahmi had his Habeus Corpus petition denied in 2010.

A letter from Fahmi Salem Said al Asani to his family. The letter was sent from Guantanamo on 9 August, 2011, and brought to the family by the ICRC.
The letter reads " In the name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful. To my father, my mother, and my loved ones. Peace be upon you, and God's mercy and blessings. Blessed Ramadan and happy Eid. Best wishes for each new year. May God accept from me and you our prayer and work. From you son who misses his mother.

Mother of Mohammad Ahmad Said Haidar. Mohammad has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He is still held in conditional detention, meaning he is cleared for release as long as the situation in Yemen is considered stable.

Father of Samir Naji Hassan Muqbil. Samir has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He is still held in conditional detention, meaning he is cleared for release as long as the situation in Yemen is considered stable.

Mother of Said Mohammad Saleh Hatim. Said has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He has been cleared for release by former President Bush in 2006 and 2007, as well as President Obama's Guantanamo Task Force in 2009. He has his Habeus Corpus granted in 2009, but vacated upon court appeal in 2011.

Mohammad Salem Bin Amro, brother of Jalal Salem Bin Amro.
Jalal Salem Bin Amro has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He has been cleared for release by President Obama's Guantanamo Task Force in 2009.

Khaled Othman Bin Al Nahdi, brother of Suleiman Othman Bin Al Nahdi.
Suleiman Othman Bin Al Nahdi has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He has been cleared for release by former President Bush in 2006 and 2007, as well as President Obama's Guantanamo Task Force in 2009. Suleiman had his Habeus Corpus petition denied in 2010.

Ghazla, the niece of Yassin Qasim Mohammad Ismail. Yassin has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 without a trial. He has been continuously detained under the AUMF Act: Authorization for Use of Military Force, signed by former President Bush during his administration.
Yassin was represented by American Lawyer David Remes, but has been denied his right to meet with his counsel since his plea for release has been denied.